Friday, March 15, 2013

A BBC news crew covering the last day of campaigning for Saturday’s constitutional referendum was caught in the fray when unidentified youths attacked an aspiring MDC-T Parliamentary candidate for Mbare as he put up posters in the area.

According to the BBC, Sten Zvorwadza, who hopes to become the next MDC-T MP for Mbare, was punched as he tried to put up posters urging voters to back the new constitution. He escaped uninjured and said the youths were almost certainly Zanu PF supporters.
The BBC's Andrew Harding witnessed the incident and said the youths also threw punches at him and his film crew. He however said no-one was seriously injured.

In a statement Friday the MDC-T said: “Nine (party) members were (Friday) afternoon assaulted by unruly Zanu PF supporters at Nenyere Flats in Mbare, Harare. The nine were assaulted while putting up MDC posters encouraging people to vote yes in the referendum.

“A BBC news crew that was in Mbare filming preparations for the referendum was also assaulted and their filming equipment damaged. The MDC members are seeking medical attention.

“However, when they made a report at Matapi Police Station, the police officers at the station refused to accept their complaints saying they should first go and remove the MDC t-shirts they were wearing.”

Zimbabweans will Saturday vote on a new constitution which is expected to pave way for elections to replace the coalition government later in the year.

The MDC's Tendai Biti, who currently serves as finance minister, told the BBC the document was the "midwife" to a brand new Zimbabwe as it sets out people's rights, devolves some power and sets up a system of check and balances for those in authority.

The Zanu PF campaign has highlighted the irreversibility of the land reform programme, which saw some 4,500 farms seized from mainly white commercial farmers, and other moves intended to give more economic power to black Zimbabweans.

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